TEXT: Ephesians 3:11

INTRO: God can do anything He purposes to do.  Job 42:2, "I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You."  Ephesians 3:11 speaks of the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord" But what is this purpose?  If we can understand that, we can understand our purpose.

I. The Purpose (Ephesians 1:3-6) 

  A. That we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, Ephesians 1:4 (cf. 1:7)

  B. Adoption as sons Ephesians 1:5 (Romans 8:28-29) ILLUS: God wants children who want to be His children: There was a ripple of excitement all through the orphanage, for a great lady had come to take little Jane home with her. The girl herself was bewildered with the thought. "Do you want to go with me and be my child?" the lady asked in gentle tones. "I don't know," said Jane timidly. "But I'm going to give you beautiful clothes and a lot of things, a room of your own with beautiful bed and table and chairs." After a moment's silence, the little one said anxiously: "But what am I to do for all this?" The lady burst into tears. "Only to love me, and be my child," she said as she folded the little girl in her arms. God adopts us, protects us, and give us an inheritance in glory. All He asks in return is that we should love Him, and be His children --Children's Record

II. The Plan accomplished in Christ (Ephesians 1:7-12)

  A. In the giving of His Son. Hebrews 2:9-10,  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. {10} For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings

  B. In the fullness of times; Galatians 4:4-5,  But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, {5} to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

  C. The Crucifixion of Christ was the culmination of God's plan.

1. Acts 2:22-23,  "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know; {23} "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

2. 2 Timothy 1:9,  who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began

3. 1 Peter 1:18-20,  knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, {19} but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. {20} He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you

  D. If salvation through Christ crucified was the plan, then everything leading up to that was part of the plan!

1. NOT RANDOM EVENTS -- Ephesians 1:11,  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,

2. How far back does it go? 

a. It began to be revealed in Eden -- Genesis 3:15

b. Its unfolding included the nation, land and seed promises made to Abraham.  Genesis 12:1-3 (22:18)

c. All of the prophetic and miraculous work that pointed to Christ

III. The Power that worked the plan:

  A. Given to Heroes who were involved in the unfolding of the plan (the prophets) 

1.  Peter 1:10-12,  Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, {11} searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. {12} To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven; things which angels desire to look into.

2. Hebrews 12:32-40

  B. Given to heroes who revealed the accomplishment of the plan

1.  Luke 24:45-49

2.  Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

Conclusion: God has a purpose for this world.  He had a reason for all that He did. He wanted to save the world; He wanted to save you - John 3:16